By Mark Scott, executive director of Market MontGOmery Chamber & Tourism • If “octo” means “eight” in Latin and “dece” means “ten” … then why is August the eighth month of the year and October the tenth month of the year?
Some say that the original Roman calendar had March (Martius) as the first month followed by Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November and December. Those were followed by 61 days of winter that did not belong to any month.
Then in 713 BC, Numa Pompilius reformed the calendar and added Ianuarius and Februarius as the first and second months, giving us the contradicting month names.
Supposedly in 44 BC the month of Quintilis was renamed Iulius in honor of Julius Caesar and following the assassination of Caesar Augustus in 8 BC, Sextilis was renamed Augustus in his honor.
I may be old but I’m not old enough to know firsthand if those are facts! I do know the following events are coming to Montgomery County in August. They’re centered around school open houses but are open to anyone of any age.
Aug. 9: Montgomery County Schools Back to School Beach Bash will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Montgomery Community College with free food, music and games. Parking will be at Page Street Elementary with a shuttle to MCC.
Aug. 16: 10 Days of Uwharrie: The Official North Carolina Outdoor Festival will hold a summit at 6 p.m. at Troy Town Hall to provide an update on activities and let people know how they can participate, volunteer, etc. The public is invited.
Aug. 22: Open house for Montgomery County middle schools from 5-7 p.m.
From 4:30-7:30 p.m. in Biscoe the following Open House Extras will be offered at Montgomery Crossing Shopping Center:
- Subway of Biscoe will offer two 6-inch meal deals for $9.99.
- Elevate Ballet Company will host a “meet and greet” with instructors/owners and everyone gets a $10 voucher toward fall classes.
- Verizon 4G will have drawings and discounts.
Aug. 23: Open house for Montgomery County elementary schools from 5-7 p.m.
From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Mt. Gilead, Speckled Paw Coffee will offer discounts on ice cream (50 cents off).
From 4:30-7:30 p.m. in Troy the following Open House Extras will be offered at the Subway/White Star Discount Pharmacy Shopping Center:
- Subway of Troy will offer two 6-inch meal deals for $9.99.
- White Star Discount Pharmacy will offer 20 percent off all back-to-school supplies.
- The Verizon 4G tent will hold drawings and discounts.
- Uwharrie Dance Center will offer drawings/discounts and a chance to meet instructor Blair Johnson.